We’ve been fortunate to connect with so many brilliant artists, business owners and leaders over the years and so we reached out to some of these talented folks to discuss what it takes to be successful.
Lacey Duncan
I think everyone has a different vision of what success looks like to them. In the beginning you just want to feed your dog and pay your bills while attempting to staying true to yourself and goals. I was fortunate enough to work for two very amazing and different photographers. One was well known for her ability to create the most beautiful portraits that captured the simple essence of a child but really wasn’t a kid person. The other was an insanely talented commercial photographer with mind blowing lighting skills but really loved capturing a more casual natural style of people. I knew I didn’t want to get to middle age and have niched down so much that my heart wasn’t in it. I decided when I went out on my own to try everything once and mark things off my list that I knew I didn’t want to do for one reason or another. I have always felt like success is a balance of happiness and money. You can get joy from your job and be happy, or you can make a bunch of money and use that to do the things that make you happy. The scale is different for every individual. I fortunately love people and sometimes while the actual individual job itself might not bring me joy, I enjoy the people I work with creating the images. Read More>>
Brittany King
I deeply believe being successful is about creating spaces where people feel seen, connected, and inspired.
For example, within the event arm of our curation, we offer Mahjong lessons, and you learn quickly that no single tile wins the game – it’s how you arrange, adapt, and play them together that creates a winning hand. I think business and life work the same way. Success isn’t just about having the ‘best’ ideas or skills. It’s about building something that brings people together, meets a need, and creates a moment they’ll remember. Read More>>
Jasmine Reynolds
Success by design, not by default.
Success, for me, is about sustained audacity, the decision to keep showing up for your future, even when your present is telling you to sit down. It’s equal parts preparation, risk, intuition, and resilience. The most successful people I know aren’t always the smartest in the room, but they are relentlessly intentional. They move with clarity even when they don’t have certainty. Read More>>
Zack Wilson
Obsession. I have a couple friends that have started their own businesses, and I can tell whether it’s going to be successful or not based on how obsessed they are with it. Personally, I am obsessed with the art of creating content and light science. It is a no brainer that I am a photographer and a videographer. My job doesn’t feel like a job when I’m doing something that I love. I’m obsessed with creating content plus I am a hopeless romantic. I primarily shoot weddings, and I tell all my clients I love “LOVE”. I’m obsessed with producing great images and telling great stories through the art of videography and photography. Read More>>
Kenyatta Woods
The bottom line to being to successful is to be consistent and relationships. I’ve been doing this for 7-8 years now and the only thing that keeps me booked is doing the work well and building relationships with people. I started my way just going to every event that was free and just posted my work on social media in hopes that it would get noticed and eventually it did by Nipsey Hussle. Read More>>
Kristen Kane
Success in business starts with passion and drive. You have to truly love what you’re doing and be willing to put in the time and effort it takes. It requires dedication, adaptability, and the ability to stay calm when things don’t go as planned. Being open to change is essential, especially in a fast-paced industry where no two days are the same. Challenges will always come up, but keeping a positive mindset makes all the difference. More often than not, when something doesn’t work out, it’s because something even better is just around the corner. Read More>>
Lindsey Franklin
In the world of wedding photography, success looks different for everyone. Some chase social media fame, others focus on destination weddings, and some aim to book high-end $10K+ celebrations. The industry is vast and varied. When I first started, all I knew was that I loved photography and being around people. Read More>>
Carlos Leon
What truly takes to be successful is to commit and sacrifice as much as possible ,when you are first starting in business. You must be willing to work harder than anyone else you know and learn delayed gratification. Denying yourself that extended vacation or luxury item that others in your circle are buying, to save, get focused and concentrate on your goals and business will results in a better life and experiences later on. Read More>>
Jennifer Schweidel
I’ve learned that success often starts with a willingness to reinvent yourself. I didn’t grow up dreaming of owning a flower shop—much less two. For 15 years, I ran law firms. Then I stepped away to raise my kids. When I came back to work, I didn’t return to what I knew—I followed what intrigued me. I trusted that the skills I already had could carry me into a completely different industry, and they did. I bought my first shop, Floral Matters, in 2023 and my second, Blooms of Dunwoody, the following year. Reinvention isn’t failure—it’s growth. You’re allowed to become someone new. Read More>>
Madison
To be successful in business is being able to show up every day – including the bad days, weeks, months or years. To me, it’s not necessarily about how many highs you have, but how you are able to get through your lows. Read More>>
Caroline Correia
Be patient with yourself because sometimes success looks different, doesn’t follow a traditional path and happens when you least expect it. Read More>>
Fallon Lawson
Success in real estate—and really, in any business—is about relationships, consistency, and staying genuinely committed to service. In my experience working in Houston and the surrounding areas, as well as collaborating with trusted realtors across the U.S. and internationally, I’ve learned that people don’t just hire you for what you do—they hire you for how you show up. That means being reliable, resourceful, and always a step ahead in anticipating their needs. Read More>>
Matt Phillips
Success requires an abundance of skills and traits. There are a few I think stand out more than others. Dedication above all else is the most important. It has the biggest trickle down effect. You’r going to fail. However, you’r going to learn along the way. You can’t give up. Dedication. In the same sense, it’s easy to be dedicated to something you love to do, as opposed to a good job that makes a lot of money that doesn’t full-fill you. If you enjoy something, you’r going to do it all the time. It will be inevitable that you get good at what you are doing. Read More>>
Nikole Strauss
I believe success comes down to one thing, how badly you want it.
It’s not about where you come from or what advantages you were handed. It’s about what you do when no one is watching. How you show up when the odds are stacked against you. And how hard you’re willing to fight for the life you see for yourself. Read More>>
Tia Clarida
Success is a constantly evolving journey. From my experience as an entrepreneur for 25 years, I’ve learned that it comes down to a few key principles: the willingness to keep learning, the ability to adapt in a market that shifts quickly, and to cultivate long-standing relationships through mutual trust. Read More>>
Oksana Zozulya
True success does not come to those who are simply “in the know,” but to those who deeply understand their craft. Your example — you are not just a nail artist, you are a judge, a teacher, an expert who sees the industry from the inside and shapes it. This is already a higher level — and it is this approach that builds trust and authority. A successful person in the beauty industry is not someone who extinguishes a wave of fashion, but someone who understands the meanings. When your words, images, and captions are not just beautiful, but have depth, they are read and remembered. This is your strength. The ability to combine external beauty with internal meaning. Read More>>
Kim Poovey
Attitude and mindset are the most important factors for success, in my opinion. As a writer, it’s easy to get bogged down by self-doubt. My inner critic is constantly whispering that my work isn’t any good and that no one will like it. A dear friend suggested I name my inner critic so I could dismiss him when he got too loud. It may sound crazy, but it worked. When Mr. Creakle (I’m a huge fan of Dickens so I named him after the cruel headmaster in David Copperfield) starts saying I’m not good enough, I tell him to be quiet and leave me alone! Read More>>
Josslyn Bobbs And Katelyn McKinney
Setting goals, seeking advice, making a clear step-by-step plan, dedication, a marketing plan, and good communication. When we started our business, we made sure to be thorough in each step along the way, building from the ground up, and not cutting any corners. We believe it is important to build with the future in mind to be sure that you are set up for long term success. We sought guidance in our plans from more experienced people which exposed some big holes in our plans and goals, helping us to fill them. This ultimately proved invaluable in our progress. Through this we learned the importance of the planning process prior to the doing, as well as that the advice and guidance from others is essential! Read More>>
Jenna Ayers
I think being a successful photographer is about more than just knowing how to use a camera. Of course, technical skills matter—understanding light, composition, and editing are all important—but what really makes someone stand out is the ability to see people. To notice the in-between moments, to make people feel safe and comfortable enough to be themselves in front of the lens, and to tell their story with honesty and emotion. Read More>>
Aubry Ramsey
Oh, how much time do you have? Lol. Because the truth is, success in this industry is about so much more than just taking pretty pictures.
Yes, knowing how to use your camera is a must, especially since most of us shoot in manual mode and rely on our understanding of light, settings, and composition to get it right in camera. Despite what some clients lovingly believe, it’s not the camera doing all the work (if only it were that easy, right?!). Read More>>
Nathan Minton
Honestly, I think success comes down to consistency, being willing to adapt, and just outworking your excuses. It’s not always about being the best at something, it’s about sticking with it when most people would’ve given up. Read More>>
Tiffany Rhodes
I think to be successful, as a fashion designer, you should first think about what void you’re looking to fill in your ideal customers life. Whether that void will be something they need to survive or a splurge they can’t live without, or something functional that serves a season or a specific purpose or occasion. Coming into this business I knew from the beginning I didn’t want to sell to the masses or manufacture hundreds of the same pieces. I knew I wanted to offer a custom designed experience, and I knew I wanted the customer to feel overwhelmingly special knowing its 1 of 1 and only made for them. Read More>>